Pastor’s Grandson Accused Of Embezzlement
A disheartening incident unfolded in North Carolina as Jordan Blake Shortridge, the grandson of a pastor, was recently apprehended and charged with purportedly pilfering over $470,000 from the Dallas Church of God across a span of five years for personal use.
The arrest came after church leadership reached out to authorities in July, suspecting embezzlement within their organization. A deeper probe initiated following discrepancies discovered in the church’s financial records in 2021, revealing unaccounted withdrawals and transactions made via PayPal.
As the investigation progressed, focus shifted onto Shortridge as the primary suspect, highlighted by his active involvement in the church, notably in musical endeavors and the audio-visual department, as mentioned on the church’s website alongside the involvement of Pastor D.R. Shortridge and his wife, Karen.
The congregation conveyed their collaboration with law enforcement in a statement to a local news outlet, affirming their commitment to assisting the investigative process and refraining from further comment beyond the official statement.
This regrettable event echoes a broader issue, as highlighted in a Lifeway Christian Resources report from March, indicating that 8% of surveyed Protestant pastors disclosed instances of embezzlement affecting their congregations. Scott McConnell, the executive director of Lifeway Research, emphasized the vulnerability to financial misuse when proper oversight and accountability measures are lacking within organizations.
The disheartening episode at the Dallas Church of God underlines the necessity for stringent financial protocols and collective oversight in religious institutions, demonstrating the potential repercussions of overlooking accountability for the sake of ministry pursuits.
IF EVERYONE FOLLOWED THIS THE GOLDEN RULE DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM TO DO UN TO YOU. AS WITH ME READING THE BIBLE ACTUALLY PUTS ME TO SLEEP. SO, I DON’T READ THE BIBLE LIKE I AM TOLD TO DO. BUT I DO FOLLOW THAT GOLDEN RULE.